You’ve probably heard or seen the ABC Channel 7 commercials about their new Live Doppler 7 Max radar system.

An alert Kane County Connects reader points out today that one of the radar installations is right here in Kane County, at the intersection of IL Route 64 and IL Route 47, west of St. Charles.

ABC 7 launched the LIVE DOPPLER 7 MAX on March 21, and is hosting a special tonight (Monday, April 25, 2016) about severe weather and the Doppler system. According to ABC, the technically advanced radar is the first of its kind in the United States built for a commercial broadcaster. ABC 7 has been granted the first dual pole, S-Band Doppler radar license in the country.

Previously, the dual pole S-Band frequency was only available to the National Weather Service and the military. The new radar has 1-million watts of power which makes it the most powerful in Chicago and the radar’s dual pole S-Band capability also sets it apart. Dual pole S-Band radar not only tracks an approaching storm, but can penetrate the storm cell to see other meteorological developments.

This gives ABC 7 meteorologists an advanced resource for faster and more accurate tracking of severe weather. ABC 7’s dual pole S-Band radar can also measure high velocity winds faster than C-Band radar, the company says on its website.

For Kane County viewers, this link on the ABC 7 site will give you a view of the weather here in Kane. Just click the “animate” button to see what’s happening from Huntley to Aurora.

ABC 7’s chief meteorologist Jerry Taft says he’s excited to put the Doppler 7 to work.

“LIVE DOPPLER 7 MAX will give our team by providing dramatically faster updates on storm location. Dual pole S-Band technology can also punch through an existing storm so we can see what’s coming next. This effective tool will help us bring our viewers the best possible information about weather in their area.”

SOURCE: ABC 7

SCREEN SHOT FROM ABC 7 DOPPLER FOR KANE COUNTY, IL.